Absenteeism

Absenteeism and the resulting employee turnover represent a colossal financial drain on businesses and public finances.

Here are the facts, based on data from the French Health Insurance system:

1. The overall cost of absenteeism in France

The absenteeism rate in France fluctuates between 5% and 6%, which represents an average of 21 to 23 days of absence per employee per year.

Office full of paper

The total cost (direct and indirect) is staggering:

€4,000 per employee per year: that is the average cost of absenteeism to a company for each of its employees.
18 billion euros: This is the annual amount spent on daily sick pay by the Health Insurance system (excluding the civil service) to cover these work absences.

But it's also the indirect costs that drive up the bill: disruption to teams, reliance on temporary workers or fixed-term replacement contracts, overtime paid to compensate, and lost productivity.

2. The cost of staff turnover resulting from absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism is often a symptom of burnout, psychosocial risks, or disengagement. When the situation escalates, it frequently leads to the termination of the employment contract (resignation, mutual termination, or unfitness for work).

In France, the average turnover rate is approximately 15%. Replacing an employee is expensive—very expensive. Experts estimate the cost of replacing an employee at the equivalent of 6 to 9 months of their annual salary.

The cost of replacement breaks down as follows:

The 4 Cost Categories of Staff Replacement

The cost of the vacant position: Before the departure (the employee's reduced productivity) and during the search (loss of overall performance or the cost of temporary staff, which is on average 25 to 30% more expensive than a standard salary).
Recruitment costs: Drafting and posting job listings, time spent by managers conducting interviews, or fees charged by recruitment agencies.
Onboarding costs (onboarding): Time spent by colleagues or a mentor training the new hire, as well as the cost of mandatory training.
The learning curve: It is estimated that a new employee takes an average of 6 months to reach full productivity. During this period, the company pays 100% of the salary for what is initially only partial output.

people waiting

In summary

For a company with 100 employees and absenteeism and turnover rates at the national average, the cumulative annual cost easily exceeds €450,000. This is why quality of life at work (QLW) and mental health prevention (the leading cause of long-term sick leave) have become absolute economic priorities.

Surveys reveal that 81% of employees suffer from mental fatigue and 1 in 4 employees is experiencing psychological distress.

Mental health and Quality of Life at Work (QLW) are no longer "bonus" options—they are major drivers of economic performance.

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Taking care of your employees' mental health means protecting your human capital while optimizing your performance.